Recently, I’ve noticed a growing trend: Christians publicly “deconstructing” from evangelicalism, often with bitterness, as if leaving the movement automatically grants them moral and intellectual superiority. Some do this because they’ve been hurt by people in the church. Others because they’re uncomfortable with biblical truths that don’t fit our culture’s values. Still others simply want to distance themselves from anything politically “Christian Right.”
I understand frustration with certain cultural quirks of evangelicalism — I have my own concerns. But I’m troubled when people throw out the core of biblical faith along with the cultural baggage. I’m a Bible-believing Christian. The labels “fundamentalist” and “evangelical” fit me in the historic sense: I believe the Bible is God’s inerrant Word, I hold to the gospel of Jesus Christ, and I affirm that salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. Those truths don’t change because certain Christians fail to live them out.
What “Fundamentalist” Really Means
The term “fundamentalist” came about in the early 20th century when Bible-believing Christians stood against modernist theology, which rejected the supernatural claims of Scripture. This included defending a literal six-day creation against evolutionary theory — not because Christians are “anti-science,” but because we refuse to reinterpret God’s Word to fit human theories. True science is observable, measurable, and repeatable. Neither evolution nor creation meets that definition, meaning both are matters of worldview and faith. Many scientific discoveries go hand-in-hand with the Bible, and there are highly-intelligent, Bible-believing scientists who hold to the Creationist worldview.
Fundamentalists take the Bible at its word. That’s what puts us at odds with those who pick and choose what to believe. It’s why I find it easier to talk with an outright atheist than with someone who once believed the Bible but now keeps only the parts that suit them.
The All-or-Nothing Nature of Scripture
Authors like Michelle van Loon, Addie Zierman, the late Rachel Held Evans, and others have left evangelicalism for what they describe as a “reimagined” or “evolving” faith. They criticize modesty standards, church outreach events, voting for pro-life candidates — even using biblical language like “born again.” They claim their faith is now freer, but it’s also far vaguer, with no solid answers. Michelle van Loon accused me of "marginalizing" everyone who disagrees with me, simply because I disagreed with her (and her blog was very "marginalizing" toward anyone who holds different views than hers).
Here’s the irony: they left a faith they said didn’t answer their questions, yet embraced a form of faith with no clear answers at all. If the Bible is not entirely true, then it cannot be trusted at all. God is an all-or-nothing God, and His Word is an all-or-nothing book. Picking and choosing undermines the very authority they still try to claim.
Salvation Is Certain, Not Vague
One of the most concerning statements I’ve seen from post-evangelicals is uncertainty about salvation. “Jesus and I are still working on that one,” sounds humble, but it directly contradicts Scripture. First John 5:13 says we can know we have eternal life. Romans 10:9 makes salvation plain: “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Vague faith is not biblical faith.
Christianity Is Not an American Religion
Another claim I often hear is that Christianity is essentially an American religion chosen by Americans the way Middle Easterners supposedly choose Islam. This is historically false. Christianity began in Israel, spread through the Roman Empire, and is now present in every nation on earth — often thriving in places where believers face intense persecution. If someone claims to be Christian simply because they are American, they are not truly Christian.
Jesus Himself warned in Matthew 7:13–14 that the road to life is narrow and few find it. True Christians will always be a minority in this world — in America and everywhere else.
Politics and the Christian Life
This brings me to another reason people “deconstruct”: they reject the Christian Right as inherently corrupt or dangerous. I’ve even seen some claim that the January 6 rioters were all evangelicals — an unproven and deeply biased assumption. Meanwhile, they ignore or excuse the Left’s moral overreach, from celebrating gender ideology in schools to silencing dissent on matters of conscience.
I’m a Bible-believing Christian and a Conservative Republican. My faith in Christ is the foundation, but I also believe God calls some of us to engage in the public square. The Christian Right is not a monolith of extremists — it’s made up of people who love God, care about truth, and want to preserve freedom. We’re not perfect, but we’re also not the villains the media makes us out to be. If there are problems in the church or in politics, the answer is reform through truth — not surrendering the field to ideologies that openly oppose biblical values.
Are there Christians who have handled politics poorly? Of course. But Scripture calls some of us to contend for truth in the public square. Paul spoke to Roman governors (Acts 24–26). John the Baptist rebuked Herod (Luke 3:19). Believers are told to put on the armor of God — armor is for battle, not retreat. Political passivity is not a biblical mandate. My husband and I are politically involved. Not everyone is called to be involved to the degree that we are, and that's okay, but they shouldn't act like that makes them superior. I'm not called to be a gospel singer, but I don't criticize those who are.
The Real Danger
Post-evangelical voices often accuse conservative Christians of being “too political” or “too exclusive,” but then wield political arguments themselves, often with bitterness. Their real authority is not Scripture but personal preference — and that is shifting sand.
I refuse to give up my faith because of hypocrisy in Christian culture, disagreements in politics, or mistreatment by fellow believers. My faith stands on the finished work of Jesus Christ, not the approval or behavior of others.
Why I Still Believe
I’m a committed fundamentalist in the biblical sense — committed first and foremost to Jesus Christ. I believe His Word is true from beginning to end. I’ve had my own seasons of questioning and hurt, but I’ve come out on God’s side.
My plea to those leaving evangelicalism is this: If you see problems, address them with the authority of Scripture. Reform what’s wrong. But don’t replace the narrow way of truth with a wide road of vague spirituality. That’s not liberation — it’s loss. And it’s not intellectually honest to reject a faith for “unanswered questions” only to embrace a worldview with no answers at all.
If you want to know why I still believe — it’s because Jesus Christ is alive, His Word is trustworthy, and salvation is found in Him alone. No cultural flaw, political battle, or personal hurt will change that.
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